Viscosity control device



Sept. 2, 1941- A. L. KRONQUES'T VISCOSITY CONTROL DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. 11, 1938 p 1941- A. L. KRONQUEST VISCOSITY CONTROL DEVICE Filed Oct. 11, 19:58

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grwe/wto o Z, AkaA was 7' WIS Patented Sept. 2, 1941 The present invention relates generally to improvements in substances to sheet material more particularly to new and useful improvements in a device for controlling the viscosity of such substances.

In the manufacture of various articles, viscous substances, such as enamels, lacquers or coating compositions, are applied to the articles. For instance, in the manufacture of metal containers, it is customary to apply a coating composition to the sheet material from which the containers are made. Viscous substances of this general type often becometoo thick for proper application thereof to the article or to the sheet material.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for maintaining and controlling a predetermined viscosity in viscous fluids by controlling the admission of a solvent or thinner thereto so that more uniform and efficient results are obtained.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for controlling the viscosity of fluids wherein the admission of the solvent is determined and controlled by the resistance offered to a member moving in the viscous fluid.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above type, wherein a a machine for applying viscousor articles, and

will in part be obvious, and will be hereinafter more fully pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation showing a coating machine embodying the viscosity control device of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged side view, in section,

of the viscosity control device.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view! taken along the line 3--3 of Figure 2, showing the connection between the source of power and the driven member.

One form of the invention is shown for purposes of illustration in the accompanying drawings. In Figure 1, there is a diagrammatic illustration of the manner in which the viscous fluid, such as lacquer, enamel, or other coating material, is drawn from a viscosity control device and delivered to a coating machine. Thus, the viscous coating fluid is drawn from the viscosity control device through a conduit ID .by means of a rotary pump P. The fluid is then delivered through conduits H, I2 to rolls R of a coating machine that may be of any conventional type. The coating fluid is then fed from these rolls R to an applying roll A from which a film of the coating fluid is deposited onto a sheet of material M. However, before the coating fluid is fed to the coating machine, it is passed through the driven member moves in the viscous fluid and 80 viscosity control device which forms the subwherein the admission of the solvent is determined and controlled by the power necessary to drive the driven member.

A still further .object of the invention is to provide a device of the above type, wherein torque responsive means is interposed between the source of power and the driven member for permitting the admission ofthe solvent when increased resistance is ofiered by the fluid to the movement of the driven member.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above type, wherein the driven member is provided with vanes and is positively rotated in the viscous fluid so as to effect a thorough of the fluid with any solvent which may be added thereto.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above type, wherein the torque responsive means interposed between the source of power and the driven member is in the form of a resilient connection responsive to increased resistance offered by the fluid to the movement of the driven member for. eflecting the 1 admission of additional solvent thereto.

Ject matter of the present invention and which will now be described indetail, reference being had particularly to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

The control device includes a tank or reservoir i3 which is adapted to contain a,supply of viscous coating fluid C. Excess coating fluid is returned from the coating rolls to the reservoir 13 through pipe M. The reservoir I3 is connected by a pipe section Hi to a chamber [6 which is closed at the top thereof by a plate portion l1 secured to the edges of the chamber l6 by bolt.

l8 or the like. The coating fluid flows-from the reservoir l3 to the chamber I6 from which it maybe drawn into the conduit ill by the pump P for delivery to the coating machine.

A reservoir i9 is disposed above the chamber l6 and is adapted to contain a supply of some suitable solvent or thinner S. Communication between the reservoir l9 and the chamber I6 is afiorded by a pipe line 20 which extends through the plate portion H. The plate portion I1 is provided with an upwardly extending cylindrical housing 21 through which a shaft 23 extends.

The above and other objects of the, invention Antifrlction bearings 22 are provided at a h end of the housing 2| and the shaft 23 is adapted to rotate in these bearings.

A The lower end of the shaft 23 has secured thereto, by means including .a key 24, a hub member 25 'which is provided with radial vanes 26 disposed within the chamber 6. Adjacent the upper end of the shaft 23, there is provided a disk 21 having a depending hub portion 28 which rotates with the shaft 23 by means of a key and substantially fills the chamber 6 from which connection 30. This end of the shaft 23 is centrally bored to receive a member 3| which is vertically slidable with respect thereto. The lower end of the member 3| is circumferentially grooved, as at 32. A bevel gear 33 surrounds the end of the shaft 23 and is keyed, as at 34, to a disk 35 which is disposed above the disk 21. Endwise movement of the bevel 33 relative to the shaft 23 is prevented by means of a thrust nut 36.

The cylindrical housing 2| and the plate portion H are provided with a radially extending bracket portion 31 which serves to support a horizontal bearing 38 at the top thereof. A drive shaft 39 rotates within the bearing an and may be driven from any suitable source of power. A bevel gear 40 is'keyed, as at 4|, to the end of the drive shaft 39 and this bevel gear 40 is in mesh with the bevel gear 33 on the shaft 23.

The disk 35 has a plate 42 secured thereto by bolts 43 or the like passing through slots 44 in the plate. The lower disk portion 21 is circumferentially recessed to receive a coil spring 45. One end of the spring 45 is secured to the disk portion 21 by a pin 46, as shown in Figure 3. The

opposite end of the-spring 45 engages a depending pin 41 which .is carried by the plate 42, as 35 particularly shown in Figure 2. When the bevel gear 33 is rotated by the meshing bevel gear 46, rotation of the disk 35 will be effected through the key connection 34. Rotation of the'shaft 23 and the disk 21 which is secured thereto is effected by the resilient or cushion drive connection between the disk 21 and the disk 35. Thus, the spring 45, being connected at one end to the disk 21 and at the opposite end to the disk 35, affords a resilient driving connection in the form of a torque responsive device between the two disks.

The shaft 23 is provided with a lateral opening 48 above the end of the cylindrical housing 2|. The hub portion 28 of the disk 21 is also provided with a lateral opening 49 which is in communica tion with the opening 48 in the shaft. The disk 21 and the hub 28 are provided with a laterally extending rigid arm 56 to which a bell crank lever 5| is pivoted, as at 52. One arm 5|a of the lever 5| extends through the. openings 48 and 49 and the end thereof fits within the circumferential groove 32 in the member 3|. The other arm 5"; of the lever 5| is provided with a roller .53 which cooperates with a cam surface 54 at the edge of the disk 35. When the cam surface 54 is brought intooperation in a manner to be hereinafter pointed out, the lever 5| will be rocked about its pivot 52 and will effect upward movement of the member-3|.

The reservoir I9 is provided with an upstand ing bracket |9a which is provided with vertically aligned bearings 55, 55a through which a valve stem 56 extends. The lower end 51 of the valve stem 56 is tapered to provide a needle valve which cooperateswith a valve seat 58 seatedin the bottom of the reservoir, l9. Between the bearings 55, 55 a collar 59 is secured to the stem 56.

A coil spring 60 is disposed between the upper bearing 55 and the collar 59 and tends to nor-.

mally force the valve stem 56 downwardly so as to close communication between the reservoir l9 and the pipe line 20. The portion of the stem 56 which is disposed above the upper-bearing 55 5 has secured thereto a laterally extending arm 6|, the free end of which abuts against the upper end of the member 3|.

' In operation,.the viscous coating fluid C flows from the reservoir l3 throughthe pipe line l5 the pump P withdraws the fluid and forces the same to the coating machine. The shaft 39 is driven-from a suitable source of power (not shown) and the bevel gear 46 which is carried thereby drives the meshing bevel gear 33 which,

' the other end thereof connected by the depending pin 41 to the disk 35. The spring 45 is properly tensioned so that, when the coating fluid in the chamber I6 is of the desired viscosity, rotation of the disk 35 will effect corresponding rotation of the disk 21 through the spring connection. The disk and hub 26 thereof are keyed, as at 30, to the shaft 23 so that the shaft is also rotated. Thus, the vanes 26 at the lower end of the shaft 23 are rotated in the fluid contained in the chamber l6. The drive shaft 33 is slowly rotated so that a relatively slow rotation of the vanes 25 is efl'ected. During rotation of the disks 21, inunison, the lever 5| is also rotated with the disks.

When the viscosity of the coating fluid increases, increased resistance is offered thereby to the rotating vanes 26. Thus, the torque necessary to'rotate the vanes is increased. When this occurs, the disk 35, being directly driven by the drive shaft 33, will maintain its speed of rotation, but the increased resistance offered to the rotation of the shaft 23 by the viscous fluid will cause relative slipping between the disks 21 and 35. Thus, the depending pin 41 on the disk 35 will stretch the spring 45 until the tension thereof is increased to such an extent that the disk 21 will again be rotated at the same speed as the disk 35. During this relative movement between the disks 21 and 35, the cam surface 54 on the disk 35 will effect outward movement of the arm 5|b by acting on the roller 53. This movement of the lever 5| will effect upward movement of the arm 5|a thereof so as to raise the sliding member 3|. Upward movement of the member 3| will effect corresponding upward movement of the valve stem 56 through the arm connection 6|. Thus, the needle valve 51 will be raised so as to admit solvent S into the pipe line 26 and thenceto the chamber 16. The admission of solvent to the viscous fluid chamber l6 will lreduce the viscosity thereof. Rotation of the vanes 26 in the chamber l6 serve to mix the viscous fluid with any solvent which may be added.

- when the coating fluid has again reached the desired viscosity, the spring will return to its normal position so that the cam surface 54 on the disk 35 will allow the bell crank lever 5| to assume its normal position, thusallowing the needle valve 51 to close c0mmunication,with the pipe. line 23. The disk 35 carries a depending pin 62 which extends into an" arcuate slot 63 in the disk 21. Thus, the ends of the slot 53 cooperate with the pin 62 to limit relative movement between the two disks. When solvent has been ed to be operated by the other arm of'said bell admitted to the coating fluid so that the coating fluid is of the desired viscosity, tension on the spring 45 may be relieved and the disks 35, 21 will assume their normal positions, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, with the cam surface 54 removed from contact with the roller 53. In this position of the disks 35, 21 the pin 62 abuts against one end ofthe slot 63, as shown in Figure 3, thus limiting contraction of the spring 65. Should the viscosity of the fluid increase to such an extent that the spring connection between the two disks will not effect rotation of the disk M, the pin 62 will ultimately abut against the opposite end of the slot 63 and effect positive rotation of the disk 21 so as to thoroughly mix the added solvent with the viscous fluid. Tension of the spring 45 can be adjusted by shifting the plate $2 with respect to the disk 35. This can be accomplished by loosening the bolts 43 and shifting the plate 42 the desired amount.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that a highly efficient viscosity control device is herewith provided and one wherein the viscosity of a viscous coating fluid is automatically maintained and controlled while the fluid is'being fed to a coating machine. One form of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration, but it is to be clearly understood that various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A torque responsive device comprising a pair of rotatable disc members, resilient means connecting said disc members whereby to permit relative rotary movement therebetween, a lever pivotally mounted on one of said disc membersandrotatable therewith, cam means associated with the other of said disc members and engageable with said lever for effecting movement of the said lever about its pivot in accordance with relative movement between the said disc members, and an element engaging the lever and adapted to be operated by the said lever in accordance with relative movement between the said disc members.

2. A torque responsive device comprising a pair of rotatable disc members, resilient means connecting said disc members whereby to permit relative rotary movement therebetween, a lever pivotally mounted on one of said disc members and rotatable therewith, cam means associated with the other of said disc members and engageable with said lever for effecting movement of i said lever about its pivot in accordance with relative movement between the said disc members, and a reciprocable element engageable with a part of said lever and adapted to be operated thereby in accordance with relative movement between the said disc members.

. 3. A torque responsive device comprising a driving disc, a driven disc, resilient means connecting said driving disc and said driven disc for permitting relative rotary movement therebe-- tween, a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on one of said discs and rotatablejherewith, cam means associated with the other of said discs and cooperating with one arm of said bell crank lever forrocking the said lever about its pivot upon relative movement between the said discs, and'a reciprocable element engageable with and adaptcrank lever in accordance with relative movement between the said discs.

4. A tordue responsive device comprising a driving disc,-a driven shaft having a longitudinal bore at one end thereof, a driven disc secured to the bored end of said shaft, said shaft having a lateral opening communicating with the bore therein, resilient means connecting said driving disc and said driven disc for imparting rotation to said shaft and for permitting relative rotary movement between the said discs, a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on said driven disc and rotatable therewith, one arm of said bell crank lever extending through the opening in said shaft and into said bore, means associated with said driving disc and cooperating with the other arm of said bell crank lever for rocking the said lever about its pivot upon relative movement between the said discs, and a reciprocable element slidably mounted within the bore of said'shaft and engaging and adapted to be operated by the lever arm which extends therein.

5. A torque responsive device comprising a driving disc, a driven disc having an axially extended hub portion which is provided with 9, lateral opening therethrough, resilient means connecting said driven disc and said driving disc for opening in said hub portion, cam means associated with said driving disc and cooperating with the other arm of said bell crank lever for rocking the said lever about its pivot upon relative movement between the said discs, and a reciprocable element engageable with and adapted to be operated by the lever arm which extends through the opening in said hub portion.

6. A torque responsive device comprising a driving disc, a driven shaft having a longitudinal bore therein, a driven disc secured to the bored end of said shaft and having an axially extended hub portion, said shaft and said hub portion having laterally aligned openings communicating with the bore in said shaft, resilient means connecting said driving disc and said driven disc for imparting rotation to said driven shaft and for permitting relative rotary movement between the said discs, a bell-crank lever pivotally mounted on said driven disc and rotatable therewith, one arm of sair bell crank lever extending through the said aligned openings, means associated with said driving disc and cooperating with the other arm of said bell crank lever for rocking the said lever about its pivot upon relative movement between the said discs, and a reciprocable element slidably mounted within the bore of said shaft and engageable with and adapted to be operated by the lever arm which extends therein.

'7. A torque responsive device comprising a pair of discs, a plate adjustably secured to one of said discs, spring means havingone end thereof connected to said plate and having the opposite end thereof connected to the other of said discs for afiording a resilient connection between the sai discs whereby to permit relative rotary movement 'therebetween, a member adapted to be moved in accordance with relative movement between the said discs, and means associated with thereof connected to the other of said discs for aflording a resilient connection between the said discs whereby to permit relative rotary movement therebetween, a bell crank lever pivotally connected to one 01' said discs and movable therewith, and cam means associated with the other of said discs and e'ncaseable with one armof said bell crank lever for eflecting' movement of the said lever about its pivot upon relative movement between the said discs.

' Arm L. moNQUEsr. 

